Leon Hall, Nate Clements, Dre Kirkpatrick back at practice for the Bengals

Posted by Josh Alper on October 3, 2012, 4:34 PM EST

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The Bengals are starting to look healthier at cornerback after facing the Jaguars with just three healthy bodies at the position.

Leon Hall practiced on Wednesday for the first time since injuring his hamstring during a September practice and Nate Clements was on the field for the first time since he hurt his calf in the Week Three game against the Redskins. Neither one of those players took the honors as returning cornerback with the longest absence, however.

That would be rookie first-round pick Dre Kirkpatrick, who has been sidelined since late August with a knee injury that started bothering him during the offseason. Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reports that coach Marvin Lewis is looking at Week Nine for Kirkpatrick’s game debut. Clements and Hall should be able to return this week if they don’t suffer any setbacks now that they are back to work.

If they do, it could leave the Dolphins as the team short on cornerbacks. Richard Marshall and Nolan Carroll both missed practice on Wednesday for Miami and the team promoted De’Andre Presley from the practice squad, raising the possibility that Andy Dalton could be facing a team thin on the corners this Sunday.

You know who else hasnt beaten a team with a winning record – Texans, Chargers, Patriots, Bears and 49ers. Thats 6 (including the Bengals) out of a total of 10 teams with a winning record, or simply put – most teams with a winning record have yet to be a team with a winning record ….. just an fyi

Deb says:Oct 3, 2012 5:58 PM

Not looking forward to my Steelers playing against that healthy Bengals secondary, but definitely anxious to see Kirkpatrick get a chance to demonstrate his talent. Good luck in your recovery, Dre! Roll Tide!